Rotary table bushing



Jan. 5, 1932. w. A. vocK ET AL ROTARY TABLE BUSHING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1928 firm/0m M///0/77 A. l/oa/r 0220 W. A. VOCK ET AL ROTARY TABLE BUSHING Jan. 5, 1932.

Filed-June 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 p Z any Mm w /V m M w x i M if Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM A. VOCK AN D FOX M. BOSWELL, OF LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA ROTARY TABLE BUSHING Application filed June 20,

This invention has to do with a bushing for a rotary table, or the like, and it is an object of the invention to provide an improved, practical and eflicient rotary table {5. blliishing adapted to handle a kelly, or the li e.

In accordance with the rotary method of drilling, the drilling tools are driven or rotated from the rotary table located on the derrick floor through bushings known as Kelly bushings mounted in the table and a drill stem or kelly which operates through the bushing. During the course of drilling,

the kelly is moved vertically through the Kelly bushings as it is being driven, with the result that there is considerable wear and strain upon both the kelly and the bush- It isian object of this invention to provide 2. Kelly bushing which reduces the wear and strain on the bushing and kelly to a minimum. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a Kelly bushing provided with rotatable bearing members which support the kelly so that it is free to move vertically.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical, effective and durable ar-- rangement of rotatable bearing members in a Kelly bushingof the character described.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a Kelly bushing of the character mentioned in which the rotatable bearing members are carriedvso that they cannot become detached from the bushing to fall into the well. It is another object of this invention to provide various improvements in the arrangement and formation of parts in a device of the character mentioned.

The various objects and features of the invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of typical forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which: c

Fig. 1 is a vertical'sectional view of a rotary table showing the bushing provided by this invention mounted in the table and hold- 1928. Serial No. 287,026.

ing a kelly. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 being a viewtaken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a ver-, tical sectional view of the bushing construction provided by this invention. Fig. 4 is a plan section of the bushing being a view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan section of the bushing taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a somewhat modified form of the invention being a plan view of the bushing with certain parts broken away to show in section.

The present invention is concerned primarily with a drill stem or Kelly bushing suitable for use in a rotary table, or the like. In the drawings we have illustrated a typical application of the invention and have shown a rotary table 10 mounted on a suitable base 11 and having a central opening carrying a 7g master bushing 12. The master bushing 12 fits a square opening in the rotary table 10 and is provided with a central vertical 0 ening designed. to carry slip bushings, l zally bushings, etc. In the drawings we have illustrated the Kelly bushing provided by this invention applied to the opening in the master bushing 12. The opening through the master bushing 12 being of the usual form, is polygonal or square in cross section at its upper end portion and is round in cross section and downwardly tapered at its lower portion.

The bushing provided by this invention is adapted to be mounted in a master bushing 12, or like supporting part, and is adapted to pass or carry a drill stem or kelly 13. The exterior of the bushing provided by this invention is made to cooperate with or seat in the master bushing in which it is to operate.

In the case illustrated the upper end portion of the bushing is square in cross section to fit the square upper end portion of the opening in the master bushing while the lower end portion of the bushing is round in cross section and is downwardly tapered to fit the lower end portion of the opening in the master bushing. For purpose of example, we will consider the present invention designed tooperate with the ordinary or standard form of kelly 13 which is square in cross sectional throughout the drawings.

configuration. In this case the opening through our bushing is square in cross section to correspond'in shape to the kelly.

In accordance with our invention the Kelly bushing is split or divided vertically into two separable sections so that it can be assembled around a kelly located in the rotary table. In the preferred form of the invention the separation or vertical line of division provided in the bushing occurs through diametrically opposite corners of the square upper end portion, as clearly illustrated The two sections A and B of the bushing thus formed by the vertical joint or separation, can be conveniently assembled around a kelly 13 and when together form a complete bushing around the kelly. The adjoining or abutting edges of the bushing sections A and B are provided with means for holding the sections in proper alignment. This means may include vertically-disposed projections 18 and 19 on the abutting edges of the sections operating to prevent shifting of the sections diagonally or in the general direction of the line of division between the bushing sections. The projections 18 and 19 are provided with meshed or overlapping flanges 20 which cooperate to prevent parting or separation of the sections, except when they have been moved apart vertically. e

As above pointed out, the bushing is designed to fit a supporting part such as the master bushin 12, and in the case illustrated the upper en portions of the bushing sections fit together to form a square body that will fit the square upper end portion of the opening in the master bushing, while the lower end portions of the sections fit together to form a body round in cross section and tapered to fit the lower end portion of the opening in the master bushing.

Our present invention provides rotatable bearing members 20 in the sections of the bushing to engage or support the kelly 13 in the bushing. The invention provides bearing members 20 at the several sides of theopening through the bushing, in fact in the preferred arrangement there is a plurality of bearing members 20 at-each side or wall of the opening through the bushing.

.The rotatable bearing members 20 are preferably in the form of rollers mounted on supporting bearings held in the bushing sections. Our invention provides recesses 22 in the bushing sections opposite the walls of the opening through the bushing, the recesses being provided to accommodate the bearing rollers 20. Each recess 22 has an opening 23 at the exterior of the bushin through which the rollers 20 .can be passed into the recess and has openings-24 at the wall of the open ing through the bushing proportioned to permit therollers 20 to project from the recess 22 into the opening through the bushing without allowing displacement of the rollers from 'the recess into the opening through the bushmg. I 1

In the form of the invention illustrated there are three bearing rollers 20 at each wall of the opening through the bushing and in this case each recess 22 is provided with one outer opening 23 to admit the rollers 20, and with three inner openings 24 to allow the rollers-to roject the proper amount into the opening t rough the bushing. The bearing rollers are mounted so that they project from the walls of the opening through the bushing to support the kelly free of the walls of the bushing. In practice the bearing rollers may extend across the walls of the bushing opening so that they bear practically the entire distance across the sides of the kelly and thus have an eflective driving engagement with the kelly. In the particular design illustrated in the drawings the bearing rollers overlap or extend, one past the other, at the corners of the bushing opening, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. Further, it is to be noted that extensions 2O are provided on the rollers at the ends receiving the greatest portion of the driving strain giving the rollers an extended bearing on the mounting pins 21. The several rollers at each wall of the bushing opening are spaced difi'erent distances apart as shown in the drawings. This prevents excessive wear on the kelly.

The mounting pins 21 which carry the rollers 20 extend through the recesses 22 from openings 26 at the adjoining edges of the bushing sections and sockets 27 in the wall of the recesses opposite the openings 26. The bearing rollers 20 at adjoining sides of the opening through the bushing are located in the same vertical position or opposite one another so that the sockets 27 adjoin or extend,

one into'theother, as shown in Figs. 4 and The mounting pins 21- 5 of the drawings. supporting corresponding rollers in a bushing section may mesh or engage each other in the sockets so that one pin is held againstdisplacement bytherend portion of the other;

and also engage each other so that they cannot turn. In Fig. 6 we show an arrangement in which the inner end portions of the pins cooperate to prevent the pins from turning but do not interlock to prevent individual Withdrawal of the pin. In the construction shown in this figure of the drawings each pin is provided with an individual lock or set screw for holding it in place.

Having described only tvpical forms of our invention, we do not wish to limit ourselves to the specific details set forth but wish to reserve to ourselves any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled inthe art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim: 1. In apparatus of the character described a bushing to be arranged in a seat and having an opening through it including, a plurality of rollers mounted in a recess in the wall of the opening to have parts projecting into the opening, the recess having a single open passage to admit the several rollers into place.

2. In apparatus of the character described a bushing to be arranged in a seat and having an opening through it including, a plurality of rollers mounted in a recess in the wall of the, opening to have a part projecting into the opening, the recess having a single open passage to the exterior of the bushing to admit the several rollers into place.

3. In apparatus of the character described a bushing to be arranged in a seat and having an opening through it including, a plurality of rollers mounted in a recessin the wall of the opening to have parts projecting into the opening, the recesshaving a single open passage to the exterior of the bushing to admit the several rollers into place, the recess holding the rollers. against displacement into the opening.

4. A bushing of the character described having an opening through it, rollers at the 9. A sectional bushing of the character described having an opening through it, rollers in a recess in the wall of the openinga'nd having parts at the opening, and pins supporting the rollers in the recess, one pin operating to hold another in place, the first-mentioned pin being arranged so that it is held in the operating position when the bushing sections are together, the recess holding the rollers against displacement into the bushing, andhaving a passage to the exterior of the bushing to admit the rollers into place.

10. An attachment for a rotary table to engage a polygonal drill stem including, a bushing fitting the opening of therotary table having an opening to pass the drill stem rollers, and removable pins supporting the rollers in recesses in the walls of the opening in the bushing, the rollers having parts in the opening of the oushing defining an opening fitting the drill stem, the recesses having passages to the exterior of the bushing to pass the rollers into the recesses.

In witness that we claim the foregoing we havellereunto subscribed our names this 14th day of June, 1928.

WELIAM A. VOCK. FOX M. BOSWELL.-

opening, and mounting pins supporting the rollers, one of the. pins operating to hold the other stationary.

5. A bushing of the character described having an opening through it, rollers at the opening, mounting pins supporting the rollers, one of the pins operating to hold the other stationary, and means for releasably holding the first-mentioned pin in place.

6. A bushing of the character described i having an opening through it, rollers at the opening, mounting pins supporting the rollers, one of the pins operating to hold the otheragainst displacement, and a set screw for releasably holding the first-mentioned pin in place. v

7 4 A sectional bushing of the character described having an opening through it, rollers having parts extending into the opening, and pins supporting the rollers, one pin operating to hold another in place, the first-mentioned pin being arranged so that it is held in operating position when thg bushing sections are together. v

8; A sectional bushing of the character described having an opening through it, rollers in a recess in the wall of the opening and 

